If you are unaware or unsure of what a WIKI is, you will benefit from this [http://wiki.org/wiki.cgi?WhatIsWiki short read].

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==[[Welcome Page|Welcome to the CSU Library Staff Wiki]]==

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This web site is yours. This web site is ours. It grows by your additions. It grows by our additions. It improves by your changes. It improves by our changes. The Webmaster maintains the site, not the content. The content is available to all who have access to http://libstaff.csu.edu. Wikis have the potential to [http://liblogs.albany.edu/library20/2006/10/wikis_a_slow_evolution_part_2.html profoundly change] the way libraries manage their Web sites and foster student and faculty collaboration.

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The [[Welcome Page]] of StaffWiki contains introductory information about the purpose of the site, how to get started adding information pages, and examples of other wikis. Notice this [[Main Page]] is always available in the navigation box to the left. '''''This is a good place for a beginner to start.'''''

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This is a collaboratively edited web site and wiki, but it is not available to non-staff viewers. It is not a public wiki. A public wiki can easily be implemented. ''Will a CSU library public wiki be built soon?'' Such a wiki could become a growing and accurate resource for students, staff, and faculty. In the meantime, all staff can access StaffWiki and practice skills at http://libstaff.csu.edu/wiki/ as they form the plans for bringing wikis to the CSU user community.

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=== Quick Links for logged-in pros ===

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*Features like skins, appearance, and behavior of this wiki, can be set to your preference. Visit [http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Manual:Skins this_manual_entry] to learn about using skins. Then go to [[Special:Preferences]] to set your skin from among those available. Let [mailto:wgraham@csu.edu?subject=WIKI_SKIN me] know whether you want me to install a new one.

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=== A wiki is web pages ===

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*[[Special:NewPages]] Special pages for finding what new pages have been added to the wiki. Easy to use, I suggest choosing "all" for namespace if you want to search.

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This is a web area where you may create or change pages yourself using very simple markup. The markup is in wide use by young and old for easy web page creation. This site is for the accumulation of useful information.

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Just click to go to your choice of page from the pages displayed.

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==== Some Examples ====

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=='''[[StaffWiki:Community_Portal|Community Portal]]'''==

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* A How-To page&#8212;in any browser just type something like http://libstaff.csu.edu/wiki/index.php/Restoring_Files A Page called Restoring_Files will be created ready for you to edit right in your browser (see below).

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The portal page contains a user maintained Table of Contents. The expectation for this page is that it will become well organized with clear and easy to understand labels. The left pane always contains a link to the [[StaffWiki:Community_Portal | Community Portal]].

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* Your own page&#8212;http://libstaff.csu.edu/wiki/index.php/Mary_Sue_Moore You can build whatever you want there, perhaps a Table of Contents or lists of your works, categorized as you wish them to be, with or without hyper linkage.

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* Information&#8212;How to create multiple copies of batched images

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... in short, whatever you want. Of course in these examples you would replace "Restoring_Files" and "Mary_Sue_Moore" with your own label for your file. Just remember that all and any '''logged in users can edit the page'''.

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==== What a wiki is ====

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This wiki is to become a set of documents supporting the programs and staff operations of the university library. This wiki is a shared online information repository created and maintained by self-selected library staff. The notion of shared institutional knowledge is central to all wikis. Ease of locating and referencing information is central to wiki structure.

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==== What a wiki is not ====

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A '''wiki''' is not about discussions. It is about shared information. '''Blogs''' (weblogs) and '''listservs''' are about discussions. In a '''blog''' you can not edit an entry, you can only comment on it. In a '''listserv''' you have to add your comment as in a blog, but have to worry about its distribution and importance also. These functions are distinct from the wiki entry, which you can change. Your colleagues will then see your corrections immediately.

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=== Why MediaWiki? ===

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The Webmaster chose MediaWiki after listening and attending to faculty and staff wants and desires. He had much personal experience using and assisting classmates with the difficult Confluence &reg; wiki software. [http://www.nten.org/blog/2007/09/28/from-the-affinity-groups-recommendations-for-wiki-solutions Other software was considered]. Several things tipped the balance to MediaWiki.

This software is as easy as any to use creating basic web sites. It also provides sophisticated resources for the more demanding authors who wish to create sophisticated web sites.

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==== It is secure and robust ====

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This site uses the MediaWiki software package. MediaWiki is [http://www.ohloh.net/projects/22/reviews acknowledged among the best], and is particularly suited to the low mantenance environment at our library. MediaWiki software is robust, built on PHP and mySQL, which also support the library web site itself. The software is media capable, easy to learn, easy to use, secure, and field-tested. Wikipedia, Google, and [http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Sites_using_MediaWiki many other corporate and educational sites] use this content management system.

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==== Examples of library wikis ====

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Few large university libraries lack wikis, collaboratively edited information stores which support staffside and public purposes. There are many innovative uses. Here are some examples.

:The Biz Wiki is a collection of business information resources available through Ohio University Libraries.

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==== Easy page authoring ====

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You log in and create or edit pages in StaffWiki using no or very little text markup, described [http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Help:Formatting here]. This wiki, a type of Content Management System (CMS), is community written and edited.

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==== Changes are transparent, never anonymous ====

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All additions, changes, and deletions are documented, logged, and saved. These logs are used by the Web Committee of the University Library and/or the Webmaster of the University Library, to counter abuse and help with auditing changes.

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== Getting Started ==

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The only needed tool is your favorite browser.

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=== Set a bookmark in your browser ===

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In each browser you use set a bookmark to http://libstaff.csu.edu/wiki/. Enable cookies. To use this wiki, browse to http://libstaff.csu.edu/wiki/.

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=== New users ===

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New users should consult the [http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Help:Contents User's Guide] for information on using the wiki software. [http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Help: There] you can familiarize yourself with the options available. Explore the many details at http://www.mediawiki.org, [http://www.mediawiki.org Mediawiki's Main Site], or focus on the [http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Help:Editing_pages basic editing information].

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Many wiki users need never venture into the details of adding images, media, or scripting to their site. Details of these operations are available in the usage help pages. A useful web page can be created by merely typing text.

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=== Logging in ===

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==== Create an account ====

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New accounts must be created by a Systems Operator. New users cannot with security create their own accounts. This is a MediaWiki drawback, but one that can not easily be changed.

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For a new account, choose a username and password and notify Bill Graham, x2257. Your account must have a single email address, preferably your CSU email address. After login, change this initial password to a privately known one.

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==== Log in ====

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Enable cookies in your browser. Recall your user name and password. Obtain your user name and password, then click "Log in / create account" located in the upper right corner of the browser's window.

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==== Forgotten your user name or password? ====

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If you have forgotten your password, have the log in page email it to you at the email address you used when your account was created or changed.

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If you need help doing this call the Webmaster, x2257.

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=== Creating a page ===

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In your browser's address bar type something like http://libstaff.csu.edu/wiki/index.php/Francis_Bacon, replacing '''Francis_Bacon''' with a name you choose. You may now edit the page (which will create it), navigate away from the page without saving changes (which will ignore it, making no changes), or update an existing page of that name (which will change it). This is the normal way to navigate to a page without following a link.

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=== Some examples to get started creating and editing pages ===

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;http://libstaff.csu.edu/wiki/index.php/The_Grinch

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: Click on the above. Click on "edit this page." Then experiment with the edit tab, save, preview and other fields. Leave some errors and misspellings for others to correct.

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You can do no harm on this page.

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=== Formatting, renaming, moving, or deleting a page ===

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* Best practices as in Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:How_to_edit_a_page

The Welcome Page of StaffWiki contains introductory information about the purpose of the site, how to get started adding information pages, and examples of other wikis. Notice this Main Page is always available in the navigation box to the left. This is a good place for a beginner to start.

Quick Links for logged-in pros

Features like skins, appearance, and behavior of this wiki, can be set to your preference. Visit this_manual_entry to learn about using skins. Then go to Special:Preferences to set your skin from among those available. Let me know whether you want me to install a new one.

Special:NewPages Special pages for finding what new pages have been added to the wiki. Easy to use, I suggest choosing "all" for namespace if you want to search.

The portal page contains a user maintained Table of Contents. The expectation for this page is that it will become well organized with clear and easy to understand labels. The left pane always contains a link to the Community Portal.